Lightning captain Stamkos headed toward free agency Monday

The Tampa Bay Lightning and longtime star heart Steven Stamkos are unlikely to achieve an settlement on a brand new deal previous to the beginning of NHL free company.

Stamkos, the group captain since March 2014, will turn into an unrestricted free agent Monday at midday ET if the 2 sides stay and not using a deal.

“If we had reached an settlement at this level, we might gladly have despatched out a press launch asserting that settlement,” Lightning basic supervisor Julien BriseBois stated. “In order we stand right here proper now, we’ve not been in a position to attain an settlement but. I do not know if we will attain an settlement.

“However we met with Steven’s brokers once more yesterday. Either side are nonetheless involved in getting a deal executed, however we’ve not been in a position to comply with phrases which might be passable for each side.”

Stamkos’ agent, Don Meehan, would not sound optimistic a deal shall be reached earlier than the deadline. “He shall be a free agent on July 1,” Meehan instructed Sportsnet.

The 2 sides had been unable to achieve a deal earlier than the 2023-24 season, which disenchanted Stamkos, he stated.

Stamkos, 34, was the No. 1 general choice of the 2008 NHL draft and has spent 16 seasons with the Lightning.

He’s the membership’s all-time chief with 555 targets, 1,137 factors and 1,082 video games. He has gained two Stanley Cups (2020, 2021) with the franchise and has 50 targets and 51 assists in 128 playoff video games.

This previous season, Stamkos had 40 targets and 41 assists in 79 video games. It marked the seventh time he has scored 40 or extra targets. A seven-time All-Star, Stamkos additionally authored his first profession four-goal sport final December.

However now there’s a robust likelihood Stamkos might depart.

“At this level, it is untimely to begin answering these kinds of questions,” BriseBois stated. “If we get to that time, we’ll tackle it at the moment.”

Stamkos got here near changing into a free agent in 2016 earlier than signing an eight-year, $68 million deal simply earlier than the beginning of free company.

Coming off that deal that carried an $8.5 million wage cap hit, Stamkos will simply be one of many largest headliners subsequent week. Although they misplaced in Spherical 1 to the state rival Florida Panthers in Could, the Lightning, in a five-game sequence, noticed the perfect of Stamkos, who completed with 5 targets and 6 factors.

The Lightning are also hopeful of understanding a contract extension with defenseman Victor Hedman, who has one season left on an eight-year, $63 million contract. Hedman, 33, had 13 targets and 76 factors in 78 video games this season, his fifteenth with the membership.

“We have had discussions with Victor’s brokers about an extension,” BriseBois stated. “In his case, now we have extra runway earlier than now we have to get a deal executed, as he nonetheless has one yr left on his present settlement. That being stated, the plan stays to be able to announce an settlement on a brand new contract for Victor within the coming days.”

Data from Area Degree Media was used on this report.